Today Disney announced that, not only are they buying Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion, but they will begin making new Star Wars films under the name, with a release date for Episode 7 expected as early as 2015. What's more? Episodes 8 and 9 will reportedly follow, resulting in a complete new trilogy.
The new films will reportedly pick up right after Return of the Jedi, which was the sixth "episode" of the Star Wars series, even though it was the third film in the first 70s and 80s trilogy that helped launch the careers of Harrison Ford as Hans Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.
"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," creator George Lucas said in a statement, reports E!. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime.
"I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of [film producer and new Lucasfilm president] Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come." Lucas continued. "Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment and consumer products."
Under the new arrangement, Lucas will serve as a creative consultant, though with no day-to-day running of the operation. Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger, who has brought such giants and innovators as Pixar, Marvel and ESPN under Disney's brand, praised Lucas' creation of Star Wars for standing the test of time and added that the installments could very well exceed the trilogy currently planned.
"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," Iger said.
Get Uinterview's FREE iPhone App For Daily News Updates here.
Get the FREE Uinterview iPad app here and watch our videos anywhere.
For more like this:
George Lucas Honors Tuskegee Airmen In 'Red Tails'
EXCLUSIVE: Terrence Howard On 'Red Tails'
'Star Wars' Ewok Actor Nicholas Read Admits to Flashing Student
REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace 3D
Soliz and Spears evidently reunited in February, when they were seen on a playground with…
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told Fox News Digital, “We don’t comment on such books.”
Knicks player Josh Hart also sent Morgan well wishes following the game.
https://youtu.be/Izza_Mm0RCQ Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore splashed back to earth in the waters off…
Le Bon continued, "But Patrick’s reaction in the episode is his genuine reaction. We all…
In addition to the many celebrities jumping ship from the country, it has been reported…